So lately I have come to the personal conclusion that my life is mediocre. Kind of half-assed I guess. I would say that while I have goals, get into grad school and run a marathon, I just don’t have the drive or the direction to do it in a non-mediocre way. Has anybody else gone through this? If so, what did you do about it?
I am all out of breath just by running less than a mile. Not everyone can run a marathon, you know.
Likewise, I am currently trying to resolve a crisis of personal confidence too. Yup, sometimes others’ achievements look grander and better and dwarf what you are doing, but as long as you are doing the best that you can, who can question you?
I would suggest first defining what you want, set your own standards (realistic, of course) and try to go for it. Trying to find confidence in success, by standards defined by others, is ever-elusive. Having the confidence in yourself that you would do your absolute best on whatever you have set your mind on is much more realistic, IMHO.
Greatness is determined by others, IMHO. I believe that those we have in the position of “great” weren’t striving for greatness, just the best they could do and others labeled those successes as great. I believe I am mediocre, at best, at everything I do. This works out for me because it challenges to continue learning and improving my skills. I accept my weaknesses and, if I’m inclined to do so, work on getter better in those areas. Other times I accept that that is just not my skill and move on.
For example, I am a clumsy person with little to no athletic skill but I have no real interest in being better, so I don’t play sports. I see little benefit in putting the effort required to be a really good athlete for so little return. It would only be hobby for me, so why go through all the effort. There are other things that I’m more interested in and so I pursue those things.
I have low self-esteem, so accepting that I could mediocre is big thing for me. I also realize that there will always be someone better. The important thing is to enjoy what you do and be satisfied that you have met your definition of success. I don’t need to be the smartest, the fastest , the strongest, the wealthiest, etc. I just need to be happy with me and satisfied that I did my best.
To use a metaphor: As long as you keep climbing the mountain you will be higher up than when you started, even if you don’t reach the top and chances are someone beat you to the top anyway. So just enjoy the climb.
Embrace your mediocrity. Many people merely aspire to it.
Accept the fact that you are mediocre - so what? Why on earth should you be better than other people? There are six or so billion people alive.
You are lucky enough to (presumably) live in a rich and civilised country, so you don’t have to worry about infectious disease, hunger or dying prematurely of a treatable illness. Instead you will probably die after a reasonably long and mediocre life, with some fun in it.
Would that everyone on the planet were so lucky.
pdts
Watch Cops.
I’ve been mediocre all my life and I’m damn good at it.
Seriously, not everyone can be good at whatever, just do what you enjoy and do it as well as you can.
I’m a fan of leaving the country, myself. There is nothing that gives you perspective like going someplace completely different. That and even the least ambitious people can earn a lot of experience and credibility just by showing up and spending time in an exotic place.
Hehe not to mention the ego boost of foreigner celebrity status. Just don’t go back home… it all comes crashing down… very traumatic.
pdts
Dude, we are all mediocre. I don’t care what your mom or your 2nd grade teacher told you. There are 6.8 billion people in the world. Do you know how large a number that is?
Show me a guy who stands out from the crowd and I’ll show you ten thousand others who are exactly like him – only better.
If your goal in life is to collect achievements so you can measure your worth against the next guy, then good luck – because you will always fall short. There is always somebody faster, smarter, better looking, stronger, more talented, richer, luckier, and more ambitious. And honestly – what do you think you’re going to get if you do rack up a huge list of accolades before you die? A gold star from God? A really nice tombstone?
Embrace your mediocrity. Find out what you enjoy doing in life and do it. Forget about measuring up. Invent your own measuring stick.
Fuck… I wish I was mediocre…not to be egotistical (though I guess I am…it’s something I’m working on) I play a multitude of instruments, run half marathons, only watch artsy movies, like to read strongly written fiction, keep myself informed, try to help the environment. I think I’m pretty talented, and hard working. It seems like no one gives a shit though where i am. I am not cool where I live and with what I’m doing.
But then I’m probably wrong, I’m sure other people are just as talented in ways I don’t understand. Do you have a girlfriend? I don’t…it’s because I can’t sit back and relax and not work on some project or something. Enjoy being mediocre! I think it’s more fun.
Two thoughts come to mind. First, you may wish to consider whether you are depressed. Obviously, if poor self-esteem and lack of motivation turn out to be issues of chemistry rather than character, you got to get that checked out.
Second, get some structure in your life. Few people have the motivation to exercise every day or just up and prepare for a marathon without some kind of structure. Maybe a calendar with notes to yourself to run that day will work, but more likely you should join a group of runners. Once you figure out how you can get the motivation to join with others to accomplish something, it becomes easier to motivate to do harder things. Success really does breed success.
Lastly, focus on one or two things at a time. If you want to excel in something, you need to invest time in that thing, not five other things too.
Afternoon rwhbyu!
A wise person once said, ‘Don’t think more of yourself than it’s necessary to think.’ Sounds as if you’re on the right track.
Another popularly held belief is that all men were created equal. Mediocrity gets a bad rap. 
Have a spectacular evening - there’s no way nature is mediocre! If I were a betting person, I’d bet there are some AMAZING stars out tonight!
Shabbat Shalom - Jesse.
I embrace my mediocrity! I have one brother who is a popular, wealthy go-getter with a McMansion, a gorgeous wife, and three breathtaking, brilliant children who go to other countries with a church group and build houses for the poor. I have another brother who mentally disabled and on so many psych drugs he gained about 200 lbs. on top of his already-200 lbs. and our 80 year old mommy still drives him around and waits on him hand and foot. Myself, I’m right in the middle, I guess. Not pretty enough, not smart enough, not daring enough to do better when I was younger. But I have a pretty, smart child myself, have every material thing in life I want (I don’t want much!), a doting husband with a good job.
I can only say, if there IS something you want to do - travel, work on a cruise ship, study abroad, climb mountains - I would suggest you do it while you are young and before you are tied down with wife and kids and mortgage. That’s how you get to feeling ‘mediocre’, because unless your SO is a free spirited ball of fire, you will in the natural course of things settle down to a life of mediocrity just to get by, ay after day after day.
This reads like a parody.
Haha I’ll try to keep it clean and out of the pit but … you are mediocre.
Even if you were in the top 1% of the global population (which I doubt) that is still one of 60,000,000 people … which is the population of the UK. Still feel so special?
You know the people much more talented than you, the ones at the top of the class at MIT and Oxford? Yeah. There are hundreds of thousands of them.
pdts
ello again rwhbyu…
I think the secret to happiness is to take the focus off yourself because, guess what, you (me, and everyone else) were never meant to be the main attraction.
The Earth is a fabulous, incredible place, filled with non-mediocre, awe-inspiring wonders. Just to look up at a blue sky and the snow-capped mountains and listen to the rush of the creek a thousand feet below is… awesome and it makes my spirit soar. (That’s my reality if I step out the front door of my broken down little cabin.)
What makes your spirit soar?
I can guarantee you that one of things I’ve mentioned here will.
There is an incredible amount of NEED in this world. Millions live in desperation and you can change that. Go see them, give 'em a hug, buy them a Big Mac, or go to India or Sri Lanka and give the three-year-old orphans on the street a nickel brass coin or two, adopt a few on a monthly basis, spread whatever love you have in you wherever it’s needed and never think it isn’t needed - it is. Everyone on this Earth has need of you and you can make a positive difference in the lives of everyone you meet. Sometimes just a smile will do it - you don’t have to go to South East Asia if that’s not your thing.
Here’s the rub, when you’re busy enjoying nature and making other’s lives better, you’re going to feel fantastic and there’s nothing mediocre about that. You’re going to make your own life better in ways you can’t possibly imagine - until you’ve made other’s lives better in whatever way you choose to.
We have all been given so much and we all have so much to give. NOTICE this and ACT upon it and you won’t be thinking about mediocrity, you’ll be too busy wondering Whom to thank for all the good gifts given. I promise!
Shabbat Shalom - Jesse.
Take a skydiving course. Not being snarky. Really, that will liven things up. Way back in my wild younger days, I did four static-line jumps myself but quit before I got to free fall. I was just too antsy about that. But it was quite a rush. You’ll feel cocky for quite a while afterward.
Still, how many people worldwide are able to read, think critically, not smoke, have achieved a bachelors degree from a University, understand and compose complex music, run half marathons (soon to be a full marathon), hold a steady job, etc. I bet lots of people on these forums have done these things, but worldwide? There are a lot of people out there. I think I might be in the 20% or so that have reached those goals. I don’t think I’m mediocre when I go out to Wal-Mart and see who is out there.
I recognize though that I do come from a good set of base circumstances.
The kids at the top of the class at oxford and MIT have a better set of base circumstances and goals (ie money / location). I also haven’t ever wanted to be there really, but I think if I really wanted to I could get there…I’m just not willing to make the sacrifice to do it. I’ve often thought about going back to school in pharmacy or medicine or law. But I like teaching kids, it’s fun. I think education is important to the world. Certainly not a mediocre job 
Maybe I’m saying were all great in our own way? Maybe I’m just pissed off at the people with where I live. I think most people on the dope are great people. Thats why I like this place I also don’t think the OP is a mediocre person with his goals in mind…perhaps he just thinks he is mediocre because he is surrounding himself with people who have reached levels of success like him. I or the OP may not run the marathon the fastest…but there are millions who never will!
But yes, I have an ego, there is no doubt. Perhaps some humbling is what I need. I acknowledge that and will take the flak I receive.
What?
Out of my way. That gold star is mine.
I’m too mediocre to see how mediocre I am!
No, you’re going to have to take that up with me.
Throws down gauntlet
Choose your weapon, good sir!
Valete,
Vox Imperatoris